The historic bell of the 172-year-old CSI Garrison Wesley Church in Trimulgherry, Secunderabad Cantonment, is set to ring once again, with restoration work on its 80-foot-high bell tower nearing completion.
The bell tower restoration at the INTACH award-winning church has been carried out using traditional heritage conservation methods, strictly adhering to lime-and-mortar techniques in line with established heritage building maintenance standards.
Administered by the Church of South India, Diocese of Medak, the Garrison Wesley Church carries 172 years of spiritual and historical legacy. The church is a fine specimen of Carpenter Gothic architecture, a style typically used for smaller churches that emphasises grace over heavy ornamentation. The church features original lime-mortar construction, along with a wooden pulpit and altar flooring that have remained intact since its early years.
Through periodic maintenance and minor repairs over the decades, the church continues to stand as both a place of worship and a living reminder of Secunderabad’s colonial-era architectural heritage, preserved for generations to come.
The 144-year-old Church of South India Garrison Wesley Church, which was meant only for British Army officers before Independence, at Trimulgherry in Secunderabad.
| Photo Credit:
NAGARA GOPAL
But behind the bell tower lies a deeply moving history. William Burgess, the first Wesleyan Methodist Missionary, founded the Wesleyan Churches in the erstwhile State of Hyderabad (the Nizam’s dominions). Although the cornerstone for the church was laid in 1853 by British military troops, it was Reverend Burgess who moved to Secunderabad in 1878 and completed the construction in 1881.
Tragedy struck little over a decade later. Reverend Burgess’ wife, Lillian Burgess, who founded the Wesley Girls’ Institution, travelled to London in 1892 and was returning to India on October 27 that year with her son, Arthur, and fellow missionary Reverend Joseph Edge Malkin. Onboard was a brass bell meant to be installed in the belfry of the Garrison Wesley Church. The ship, however, sank off the coast of Portugal, claiming several lives, including those of Ms. Burgess, her son, the young missionary and the bell itself.
Early this year, the Presbyter-in-charge of the Church, Rev. M. Rajeshwar Solomon, in consultation with the Pastorate Committee and the Bishop’s Commission members, made a collective decision to initiate restoration and maintenance works.
According to Sudesh Kumar, the Bishop’s Commission Secretary, the bell tower was elevated from 20 feet to nearly 80 feet in memory of Ms. Burgess, and a new bell was installed, making the tower not only an architectural feature but also a monument of sacrifice, faith and remembrance.
Restoration work under way at the 144-year-old Garrison Wesley Church at Trimulgherry in Secunderabad.
| Photo Credit:
NAGARA GOPAL
He said the restoration efforts are not merely repairs; they represent a continuation of stewardship, honouring the past, serving the present and securing the future of Garrison Wesley Church. Speaking about the restoration work, he says: “This approach ensures structural integrity while preserving the original character and sanctity of the church.”
According to Chilkuri Shyamala, one of the oldest members and treasurer of the church, the bell and the bell tower are not mere structures, but sacred symbols of sacrifice and faith. “The bell stands as a silent witness to the missionary vision of Reverend Burgess and Ms. Burgess, echoing the price paid for the Gospel in these lands,” she notes.
Each toll recalls the lives lost at sea and the hope they carried for generations yet to come. For her, the bell calls the faithful not only to worship, but to remember, honour and continue the legacy entrusted to the church.
Sanjeev Tenali, property secretary, Garrison Wesley Church, says: “It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and a great honour to be associated with the restoration of this historic church. To contribute to preserving its legacy, faith, and heritage for future generations is both a privilege and a sacred responsibility.”
This is the second major restoration work undertaken in the last two decades. In 2012, a major restoration of the entire church was completed by 2015, with the services of a Kanyakumari-based firm that specialises in using traditional methods to restore heritage structures.
Published – January 02, 2026 11:43 pm IST
